We’re now in peak wiener season, folks. Hot dogs are a beloved pastime found at backyard barbecues, picnics, and even cocktail bars across the country. It’s evident that Americans love these tubular meat treats — even though their buns are sold in a pretty annoying way — and the numbers back it up.
Believe it or not, the U.S. has a National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC), and it graciously consolidated America’s consumption stats using sales data from supermarkets and major league ballparks to keep us up-to-date on our shared hot dog habits. Read on to discover five surprising facts about America’s favorite cookout staple.
1. Americans consume 7 billion hot dogs during peak season.
The NHDSC defines peak hot dog season as the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and hot dog producers estimate that about 38 percent of their total annual sales occur over this period. During this time, Americans collectively eat about 7 billion hot dogs, which works out to about 818 hot dogs every second — a rate that would shock even Joey Chestnut.
2. Americans eat 150 million hot dogs on the Fourth of July.
Apparently, there’s nothing more patriotic than roasting weenies. The Fourth of July is such a popular holiday for hot dogs that Americans enjoy 150 million of them on that day alone — if linked end to end, that’s enough to reach from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles over five times.
3. Los Angeles eats the most hot dogs
